TigerFish

You can have a normal telephone type handset on the system incase you needed to take a private call, i.e. not through the car speakers. Would be classed as not handsfree these days mind you so a no-no on the move. "Data" is probably for updating firmware.

Agree with some of the above, check the torque settings on the wheel nuts and that they were done up in the correct pattern. Also check the caliper slide pins are sliding freely. If the slide pins are sticking, that can cause the caliper not to release fully and have a similar effect to a sticking caliper. All the work previously done may have freed the pins enough to work fine for a while. Some info on the slide pins in this tutorial I did.... clicky

I am talking about the Parrot ck3100 in both the installs I have done. And yup, SOT-913 is the lead I believe covers a good deal of the Lexus range. I would imagine most of the hands free kits would have ISO connectors so the SOT-913 should cover almost all of them.

As far as I know, the machines are an automated thing and will put dye in, even the kwik-fit machines. Of course if it is leaking inside the car behind the dash somewhere, unless you dismantle the dash, you aint gonna see the dye.

I wouldn't expect the torque plate to suffer too much from the removal process. Seized ones I generally keep turning them 'til they free up as much as possible, then force them out by twisting and pulling with a pair of pliers. Eventually they come out. You could try any of the penetrating oils to try and help with the removal. If you get really desperate or frustrated, if you push the boot back off the end of the slide pin (back down towards the torque plate), you can get a screw driver on the lip and use a hammer to drift them out.

Just so you are aware, changing the plugs on the mk1 non-turbo GS/Aristo is not as straigh forward a job as most cars. You do have to take the throttle housing off that doubles back over the top of the engine. Not a massively complex job, but plenty of pipes and stuff to undo including a coolant piper under the throttle housing.

Last time I was in Sainsburys, they had so many sugar cubes they were actually selling them. And the really handy thing is, if you find you have a surplus of these silk screen removing cubes, they also double up as handy sweetening devices for your tea or coffee :P

If you are a named driver on a fully comp policy, you should be covered. The only potential sticky point I can see is if you are a named driver and your Mum the main driver only to save you money on insurance. i.e. it is your car but your Mum insures it with you as a named driver to save money. Insurers are getting pretty hot on that these days as it is fraud, so as long as that isn't the case, you should be fine.

Both my parrot kits came with the mute lead. Yeah, all of my phones have muted the stereo if you press the buttons, but then again, I don't press the buttons so not a problem for me. Not very handsfree if you are pressing the buttons on the phone I had swapped all my connectors for ISO connectors when I removed the factory head unit in my mk1 GS, so it was just straight plug and play. You will need an adaptor lead to convert the Lexus connectors to ISO, I did this for the misses's Ford Focus when I put a parrot in that. I think Autoleads SOT-913 covers a lot of the Lexus range.

Can't help specifically, but a Lexus dealer whould be able to tell you if any car you are looking at has had these issues fixed.

Excellent write-up! I guarantee most garages now would just suck their teeth and say 'needs a new starter mate' and proceed to charge you 2 hours labour on top of the cost of a complete unit! Probably quite true. Although to be fair, the starter (on the mk1 anyway) is a c*nt to get to. Even once you've managed to get to the two bolts and undo them, you still have to get the thing out round all the pipes and wiring, Lots of cursing ensues :tsktsk: Yup!! Sounds just like my Supra and all the Celicas before that too. Right angled joints and seven fingers seem to be a mandatory requirement for any toyota engine bay. Plus they like putting in the sneaky little sharp edge just right to catch your fingers too!! :D Thanks for the advice. Any ideas as to where I could buy one cheap (not lexus of course). Thanks Buy a starter? Buy the overhaul kit on ebay and repair yours. If you buy one from a scrappy, like I did last year, you will probably be looking at the same job again, like I did. Cheaper to fix the one you have and know that it is properly sorted.

I had some custom made by www.carmats4u.com They sent me some templates that I had to change slightly for a perfect fit. I sent the templates back and they then produced the mats for me. Absolutely spot on and superb quality!!! That was 6 months ago. I've just bought another MK1 Sport and so need another set. I'm in the process of sorting it out now. Have a word with chrisconway@uniqueproducts.com who is sorting them out for me. Not sure why he's got a different adddress to carmats4u but hey - who cares! Does that mean they could use the template you did? What sort of price were they?

Sounds good

Have a look at this diagram, it might help clicky

Thanks for the information. If someone could let me know the location of this sensor so I can have a look, then that would be great. (I don't have an owner's manual.) Have a look at this diagram mate, should help with the locating of the parts. clicky

BUMP

Excellent write-up! I guarantee most garages now would just suck their teeth and say 'needs a new starter mate' and proceed to charge you 2 hours labour on top of the cost of a complete unit! Probably quite true. Although to be fair, the starter (on the mk1 anyway) is a c*nt to get to. Even once you've managed to get to the two bolts and undo them, you still have to get the thing out round all the pipes and wiring, Lots of cursing ensues :tsktsk:

Isn't the leveling sensor connected to the rear suspension somewhere, maybe a link has seized up on it or come adrift?

Last time I sorted a battery out, there were litterally pennies between the main dealer and autofactor prices. Just call kwik-fit, Lexus and a couple of others for a price. There is nothing special about the battery so any of them should be able to get one.

Why?

I've not noticed any on ebay.

There are also more than you can shake a stick at on ebay for quite reasonable money :)

What did they order? The part number for a key and a single bolt is PZ439-10671-2P, Not too expensive, I think around £4. As far as I know, they are still available. Failing that, Vauxhal used the same key one some of their wheels, so maybe they could get one. Failing that, I am quite close in Basingstoke, if you get your tyres done there, I could meet you and lend my key. You could try some long nose pliers, they may work if they are not done up too tight.

From what I can gather, a re-gas from somewhere like kwik-fit is around the £40 mark, main dealer £80-£100. The only problem in the main is the fact that for the system to need re-gassing, the gas must've escaped somehow, which generally means a leak. At a professional place (I'll let you make your own choice on kwik-fit ), they will add a dye which will highlight any leak points. If you buy your own cans (which you can get from halfrauds I believe), this will not be the case. The other thing is that the pro re-gas will suck out any air and moisture first, which you wont do yourself, which can just introduce other problems. As Mike_Mac also mentions, o-rings perishing and/or hardening is on of the more common leak problems. The less you use the aircon, the more like this is to happen.

I've been having the exact same issue after doing this tutorial Dash Removal The bulbs appear to be a size somewhere between the capless bulbs R501 and R286. Must admit, the main dealer is the easy option, however having spent £36 on 8 bulbs for the AC control panel last year, and four of them being gone again, I'm a bit peaved about the cost of them. I have just replaced the AC panel ones with LED bulbs (they are a bit easier to find than the dash ones). I have just ordered some different LED ones from america that I think may fit the dash. They should arrive in the next week or so, I'll keep you updated. I'm contemplating switching all the interior illuminations (Dash, AC panel, Clock, Window switches and heated seat switches) to blue, hence another reason for trying to find LED replacements